Difficulty Emptying Bladder, slow flow

Body: 

I've been to 3 different urogyns, 2 said all looked good, the last one said he felt I have a mild stage 1 cystocele. I'm 41 and have been feeling that I'm not completely emptying my bladder all the way, that I need to go again 15 minutes afterward. Anyone else have this? Could it be due to hormonal changes? I've also been getting frequent yeast infections which never used to be a problem up until this past year. Can anyone give me any insight?

Incomplete emptying of the bladder is a possible and frequent outcome of pelvic organ prolapse. It can also be due to hormonal changes and the yeast infection could have something to do with stagnant urine being left in the bladder. These are all 'cans' as you would know there are possible other causes for these things too. If you have Christine's book you would find a chapter where Christine explains that leaning forward when sitting on the toilet to urinate helps to empty the bladder fully. Most women make sure they fully empty at least once a day usually in the mornings. Other times of the day, it may require your returning to the bowl after urinating to urinate again. As you make posture part of your life, and make sure you empty fully, things should improve as relaxation which comes from the knowledge you are taking active steps to improve things helps too. I think for the yeast infection for the short term you need to clear it up as thoroughly as you can as it can reoccur and it in itself gives you the urge feeling that makes you feel you want to go.

Great wakeup call, having a diagnosis of mild cystocele with no bulgy symptoms at the age of 41. You have a wonderful opportunity to address the issue now by correcting posture, hopefully not ending up like many of us with a big post-menopausal surprise! Your hips will thank you too. Hope you will get to work and let us know how it's going. - Surviving

Here's a reference to a short, helpful and humorous post that has stuck with me in the phrase "Where are your knickers?" Node 5190. To get to a known node number if I'm in another node, I just go to the https line at the top of the page and replace the node number and enter.

Anyway, this post by Louise comments on pooping position (or pants position) but also works for peeing. Now, with my pants down around my ankles instead of my knees, my chest up, my bladder rolls forward into a better place and I am able to void more freely and completely. Hope that helps a little. If we were to compare stages, my cystocele is stage 3 and it does help me. I never thought I'd be spending so much of my time figuring out how to pee! If at 41 I had had this information and the will to persist, it might not have come to this....so ditto to Surviving's encouragement to get to work.

I sure wish I had had all this information before. I had to resort to catheterizing (prior to my surgery) which my husband did for me cause I couldn't do it myself. I was absolutely petrified and it hurt. I had one continuous bladder infection and took antibiotics for months. These techniques could have helped me I am sure. I will use them now as I have another bladder prolapse I just discovered.